Aldabra Atoll

Aldabra is the largest of the outer islands of Seychelles, which are uninhabited and pristine, and made of coral and volcanic rocks. The outer islands are usually flatter than the inner islands, the latter being larger and made mostly of granite.

Aldabra is actually one of four islands that make up Aldabra Atoll. These surround a shallow lagoon. The islands are, in turn, surrounded by a coral reef, which has protected them from human influence by making them almost inaccessible by boat.

The Aldabra Atoll is the original home of the giant tortoises that now occur on most of the Seychelles islands. Perhaps as a result of the lack of human interference, Aldabra is home to an incredible 152,000 giant tortoises - the world's largest population of that reptile.

The island is also the only island in the world where a reptile is the dominant herbivore in the food chain. A distinct fauna has evolved as a result of the tortoise's dominance, taking advantage of tortoise grazing patterns. Aldabra also contains the last western Indian Ocean flightless bird, the Aldabran White-throated Rail.

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